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STATE  OF  CALIFORNIA 
THE  ADJUTANT  GEPJEJUL'S  OFFICE: 


Patrols,  Scouting, 

Messages 


PREPARED  BY 


1st  Lieut  KENYON  A.  JOYCE,  6th  Cavalry, 
Inspector-Instructor,  9th  Cavalry  District 


II.  S.  CROCKER  CO. 

SAN   FRANCISCO 
1916 


STATE  OF  CALIFORNIA, 

THE  ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

SACRAMJEtfTO 


Patrols,  Scouting, 

Messages 


PREPARED  BY 

1st  Lieut.  KENYON  A.  JOYCE,  6th  Cavalry, 
Inspector-Instructor,  9th  Cavalry  District 


U.S.  CROCKER  CO. 

SAN    FRANCISCO 

1916 


INFORMATION. 

In  any  military  operation,  reconnaissance 
plays  a  most  important  part.  It  is  of  vital  im- 
portance that  a  commander  have  information 
of  the  enemy.  If  he  does  not  have  it  he  gropes 
in  the  dark  and  the  efficient, use  of  his  com- 
mand is  an  impossibility.  >  *f ,j 

There  are  various  effective  Vfrays  of  gaining 
information  in  the  theatref  o'f  x3pe rations }  Jnrt  , 
for  the  intimate  reconnaissance  tiiat  Is  neces- 
sary when  two  forces  approach  one  another 
the  final  dependence  will  have  to  be  on  the 
mounted  man  and  the  man  on  foot. 

We  must,  therefore,  concentrate  on  the 
training  of  patrols  and  scouts.  And  it  is  only 
by  constant  study  and  persistent  practice  with 
concrete  problems  during  peace  time  that  this 
end  can  be  accomplished.  The  principles  of 
the  subject  must  be  thoroughly  learned,  and 
then  these  principles  must  be  demonstrated  in 
an  applicatory  way  so  that  every  man  of  our 
organizations  will  be  able  to  perform  intelli- 
gently any  duty  that  might  reasonably  be  ex- 
pected of  him. 


PATROLS. 

During  active  operations,  information  is  usu- 
ally obtained  by  means  of  patrols.  The  classi- 
fication of  the  various  kinds  of  patrols  is  of 
little  importance  to  the  practical  soldier,  so  we 
need  not  dwell  ,  on  the  names  given  them. 
\\  hat  really  ecu-its  is  the  ability  to  decide  on 
the  proper  number  of  men  to  send  to  accom- 
plish ?.  given  mission,  the  ability  to  instruct 
the  patrol  leader  so  there  will  be  no  doubt  in 
his  mind  what  is  wanted,  and  the  ability  of  the 
leader  to  perform  any  task  given  him  up  to  the 
very  limit  of  his  ability. 

Strength.  The  strength  of  a  patrol  varies 
according  to  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  sent 
out.  It  may  be  composed  of  anywhere  from 
three  men  to  a  troop.  In  general  we  may  state 
that  if  a  patrol  is  sent  solely  to  gain  informa- 
tion, it  should  contain  as  few  men  as  possible, 
and  if  it  is  expected  to  fight  it  should  be  strong. 
However,  a  patrol  should  never  be  stronger 
than  necessary.  Weigh  carefully  what  you 
must  accomplish  and  send  the  minimum  num- 
ber that  can  do  the  work.  The  following  will 
show  the  usual  strength  of  the  various  kinds 
of  patrols : 

Reconnoitering,  3  to  9  men. 

Flanking,  2  to  8  men. 

Visiting  (outpost),  2  to  4  men. 

Combat,  4  men  to  a  troop. 
As  will  be  seen  the  first  three  named  are  for 
gaining   information   and   in   consequence   are 


small,  and  the  last  named  being  for  the  double 
purpose  of  giving  warning  and  offering  resist- 
ance may  have  any  strength  the  situation  de- 
mands. A  rule  in  regard  to  reconnoitering 
patrols  is  that  less  than  six  men  are  too  few  to 
send  messages  and  more  than  ten  are  too  many 
to  be  easily  concealed.  In  deciding  on  the 
proper  number,  consider  the  number  of  men 
you  will  probably  need  as  messengers  and 
what  the  chances  are  of  your  having  to  fight 
to  accomplish  your  mission.  In  hostile  coun- 
try two  men  should  be  sent  with  each  message, 
in  friendly  country  one  will  usually  suffice. 
Therefore,  if  you  were  operating  in  a  hostile 

untry  and  a  patrol  were  sent  out  on  a  mis- 
that  would  require  the  sending  back  of 

o  messages,  the  strength  of  the  patrol  would 
be  at  least  seven  men ;  two  for  each  message 
and  at  least  two  to  be  left  with  the  leader  after 
the  last  message  was  sent.  The  number  that 
it  is  planned  to  have  remain  with  the  leader  is 
dependent  on  the  particular  conditions  that 
confront  each  patrol. 

Selection  of  leader  and  patrol.  An  officer, 
and  preferably  a  selected  one,  should  command 
any  patrol  sent  on  an  important  or  independent 
mission.  However,  the  mistake  must  not  be 
made  of  sending  out  officers'  patrols  on  all  oc- 
casions. A  good  rule  on  this  is,  never  to  use 
a  particularly  valuable  man  for  a  service  that 
a  less  valuable  man  can  perform.  Officers, 
especially  well-trained  ones,  are  indispensable 


and  they  must  not  be  frittered  away  and  used 
on  work  that  is  not  commensurate  with  their 
value.  Therefore,  as  leaders  of  the  less  impor- 
tant reconnoitering  patrols,  use  selected  non- 
commissioned officers,  and  of  the  usual  flank- 
ing and  outpost  patrols  use  noncommissioned 
officers  or  especially  qualified  privates.  Or- 
ganization commanders  should  never  desig- 
nate men  and  horses  for  reconnaissance  that 
are  not  suitable,  and  on  all  important  patrols, 
men  and  horses  should  be  selected  for  their 
particular  fitness  for  this  duty. 

Mission.  In  sending  out  a  patrol  its  mission 
is  the  all-important  thing  to  consider,  for  on 
it  depends  the  leader  you  select,  the  number 
of  men  you  designate,  and  the  conduct  of  the 
patrol  by  the  leader.  In  consequence,  MAKE 
THE  MISSION  CLEAR.  Weigh  the  words 
in  which  you  state  it  and  make  them  few.  Be 
exact  in  what  you  expect  and  leave  no  excuse 
for  a  half-hearted  performance  on  the  ground 
of  misunderstanding.  Both  officers  and  non- 
commissioned officers  should  be  instructed,  on 
the  other  hand,  always  to  ask  for  a  full  ex- 
planation of  anything  that  is  not  perfectly 
clear  to  them  in  the  orders  they  receive. 

Orders  to  leader.  As  to  the  orders  you  give 
to  a  patrol  leader,  there  is  only  one  safe  form 
in  which  to  do  so,  /.  c.,  in  the  prescribed  form, 
or  sequence,  of  a  field  order.  If  this  rule  is 
adhered  to  it  serves  as  an  invaluable  check, 
and  especially  so  if  the  person  to  whom  the 


order  is  given  understands  the  correct  form. 
This  sequence  should  always  be  borne  in 
mind:  1.  Enemy — Our  Troops;  2,  Plan;  3, 
Mission ;  4,  Messages.  All  noncommissioned 
officers  should  be  taught  the  general  form  in 
which  a  tactical  order  is  given,  and  it  should 
be  insisted  upon  that  they  always  give  their 
instructions  to  patrols  in  that  form. 

The  following  is  a  resume  of  the  instructions 
that  should  be  given  a  patrol  leader: 
1.    (a)   Information  of  the  enemy. 

Information  of  our  supporting  troops. 
Location  of  our  outpost  or  other  cover- 
ing detachment. 

Location  of  other  friendly  patrols. 
Plan  of  the  commander. 
Mission  of  the  patrol  (exactly  and  defi- 
nitely what  the  patrol  is  to  accom- 
plish). 

(b)  The  size  of  the  patrol. 

(c)  Where  the  patrol  is  to  be  obtained. 
General  route  of  the  patrol. 
Limits  of  country  to  be  observed. 
Hour  of  departure. 

Hour  by  which  patrol  is  to  return. 

(a)  Where  messages  should  be  sent. 

(b)  Time  at  which  information  must  reach 

designated  point. 

Thus  Colonel  X  might  instruct  Lieutenant 

A  as  follows :    "It  is  imperative  that  we  have 

information   of  the   enemy   in   the   vicinity  of 

— .     You  are  to  lead   a  patrol   on  this 

mission. 


The  latest  reports  today  stated  that  a  force 
of  his  infantry,  strength  unknown,  was  in- 
trenching at  -  — . 

As  you  know  our  regiment  is  acting  alone. 
The  1st  Squadron  is  at  -  — ,  3  miles  north 

of  here,  tonight.  Tomorrow  a  patrol  will  be 
sent  from  it  toward  -  -  on  the  - 

road  and  will  be  on  your  left.  Lieutenant  B 
will  have  a  patrol  on  the  -  -  road  and 

will  be  on  your  right.  Our  outpost  occupies 
the  line  -  — . 

The  regiment  will  march  tomorrow  at  7  a.  m. 
on  -  -  via  the  roads  it  is  now  on.  Its 

further  action  will  depend  on  the  result  of  your 
reconnaissance. 

Your  patrol  will  consist  of  7  men.     Select 
them  yourself  from  your  troop.     Your  captain 
will  be  notified.    Proceed  via  the  — 
to  the  vicinity  of  -  -  and  discover  the 

extent  of  the  line  occupied  by  the  enemy.  Ob- 
serve particularly  for  any  signs  of  cavalry  or 
artillery.  Start  at  4.00  a.  m.  tomorrow.  Get 
back  to  this  column  by  10.00  tomorrow  night. 

I  shall  be  with  the  main  body  on  this  road. 
I  shall  reach  -  -  at  11.00  a.  m.  and  shall 

expect  definite  information  by  that  time  as  to 
whether  or  not  the  enemy  is  at  -  — ." 

Inspection  and  preparation.  Under  the  usual 
conditions  that  govern  the  sending  out  of  a 
patrol  the  leader  does  not  have  time  to  make 
the  elaborate  inspection  and  do  all  the  things 
that  are  laid  down  in  the  textbooks.  Ordina- 

8 


rily  it  will  be  necessary  for  a  patrol  to  move 
out  at  once  and  for  the  leader  to  give  his  in- 
structions on  the  way  to  the  outpost  or  lead- 
ing element  of  the  advance  guard.  On  impor- 
tant missions,  however,  where  time  permits,  as 
in  Lieutenant  A's  case,  every  safeguard  that 
makes  for  the  efficiency  of  the  patrol  should  be 
looked  to.  Thus,  upon  receipt  of  his  instruc- 
tions, Lieutenant  A  would  immediately  set 
about  preparing  for  his  task  the  next  day  as 
follows  : 

1.  He  would  set  his  watch  with  that  of  Col- 
onel X. 

2.  He  would  make  arrangements  for  being 
awakened  in  the  morning,  for  breakfast  for  the 
patrol  and  for  two  cooked  meals  to  be  carried 
in  saddle  pockets. 

3.  He  would   select  the  men   of  his  patrol 
with  special  reference  to  their  particular  quali- 
fications   for   the   work,    and   would   assemble 
them. 

4.  He  would  question  the  men  relative  to 
their  horses,  arms  and  equipment  and  would 
inspect    where    there    was    any    possibility    of 
doubt.     He  would  make  sure  that  there  were 
no  horses  of  conspicuous  color,  that  there  was 
none  that  neighed  or  pawed  excessively,  that 
they  were  free  from  coughs  and  that  their  feet 
and   backs   were   in    excellent   condition.      He 
would  make  sure  that  the  men  were  in  good 
physical    condition    and    that    no    man    had    a 
cough.     He  would  instruct  his  men  that  two 


cooked  meals  and  a  feed  of  grain  were  to  be 
taken  and  would  caution  each  to  fill  his  canteen 
with  water  or  coffee.  He  would  caution  them 
to  have  their  equipment  complete  and  so  ar- 
ranged as  not  to  glisten  or  rattle.  He  would 
caution  against  the  possession  of  any  letters, 
maps  or  newspapers  that  might  be  of  use  to 
the  enemy  in  case  of  capture. 

5.  He  would  explain  the  mission  of  the  pa- 
trol and  give  in  substance  the  instructions  he 
had  received.     He  would  explain  any  plan  he 
had  formed  and  would  point  out  on  the  map 
the  route  of  the  patrol  and  the  important  feat- 
ures of  the  terrain. 

6.  He  would  explain  the  formation  the  pa- 
trol would  take  on   leaving  the  outpost  line, 
would  assign  the  various  men  to  their  posi- 
tions in  the  patrol,  would  designate  a  second 
in  command  unless  such  existed  by  virtue  of 
rank,   and   would   give   any   special   directions 
as  to  the  conduct  of  the  patrol  that  the  partic- 
ular mission  demanded. 

7.  He   would  insure  that  all   understood   a 
simple  set  of  signals.     Par.  29,  Field  Service 
Regulations,  states :    "In  addition  to  the  usual 
signals  prescribed  in  drill  regulations,  the  fol- 
lowing should  be  clearly  understood  by  mem- 
bers of  a  patrol : 

"Enemy  in  sight  in  small  numbers,  hold  the 
rifle  above  the  head  horizontally ;  enemy  in 
force,  same  as  preceding,  raising  and  lowering 

10 


the  rifle  several  times ;  take  cover,  a  downward 
motion  of  the  hand. 

"Other  signals  may  be  agreed  upon  before 
starting,  but  they  must  be  familiar  to  the  men ; 
complicated  signals  are  avoided." 

8.  He  would   cause   the   patrol   to   sleep  in 
one  place  so  he  could  wake  them  in  the  morn- 
ing without  delay.     He  would  have  the  horses 
tied  at  one  end  of  the  picket  line  and  arrange 
for  their  being  fed  before  starting. 

9.  He  would  check  his  own  equipment  to 
make  sure  it  was  complete. 

10.  He  would  study  his  map  and  complete 
his  plans  for  the  next  day. 

Equipment  of  leader.  Prospective  patrol 
leaders  should  always  be  equipped  for  such 
duty,  except  as  to  field  glasses  in  case  of  non- 
commissioned officers.  The  leader's  equipment 
consists  of  arms  and  ammunition,  field  glasses, 
pencils,  eraser,  maps,  whistle,  watch,  message 
pad,  notebook,  small  ruler  showing  pace,  yard 
and  time  scales,  compass  and  wire  cutters. 

Instructions  by  leader.  No  matter  in  what 
haste  a  patrol  is  sent  out  there  are  certain 
things  that  must  always  be  done  by  the  leader 
before  his  reconnaissance  or  other  task  actu- 
ally begins. 

1.  He  must  instruct  his  patrol  in  detail  as 
to  their  mission,  following  in  this  the  instruc- 
tions he  received,  and  add  any  plan  he  has 
formed. 

11 


2.  He  must  make  clear  the  particular  forma- 
tion the  patrol  is  to  take. 

3.  He  designates  a  second  in  command  (un- 
less such  exists  ex-officio). 

4.  He  makes  sure  that  a  simple  set  of  sig- 
nals is  thoroughly  understood. 

5.  He  assures  himself  that  no  man  has  any 
maps,  letters  or  newspapers  that  might  be  of 
value  to  the  enemy  in  case  of  capture. 

Formation  of  patrol.  The  formation  that  is 
taken  by  a  patrol  is  dictated  by  the  situation, 
of  course,  but  it  usually  follows  the  principles 
that  govern  the  formation  on  the  march  of  any 
body  of  troops  in  an  enemy  country.  That  is, 
it  has  what  corresponds  to  an  advance  guard, 
main  body  and  rear  guard  and,  when  neces- 
sary, flank  protection.  Also  the  formation  of 
its  various  subdivisions  is  such  as  to  make  it 
least  vulnerable  to  rifle  fire  or  sudden  mounted 
attack.  There  is  no  such  thing  as  a  normal 
formation  for  a  patrol.  The  broad  principles 
must  govern  that  a  patrol  have  such  forma- 
tion that  it  can  travel  fast  enough  to  accom- 
plish its  mission,  that  it  can  be  assembled  for 
instant  action  and  that  it  will  not  be  annihi- 
lated by  a  single  volley  or  sudden  burst  of  fire 
from  a  concealed  enemy.  An  example  of  a 
good  formation  for  a  patrol  of  nine  men  is  as 
follows : 

In  the  lead  as  a  point,  a  noncommissioned 
officer  (usually  the  second  in  command)  and 
one  man  at  20  yards  distance,  on  opposite  sides 

12 


of  the  road ;  about  60  yards  farther  to  the  rear 
the  officer  (or  noncommissioned  leader)  and  4 
men  at  10  yards  distance,  alternately  on  either 
side  of  the  road ;  and  about  60  yards  farther  to 
the  rear  the  remaining  2  men  at  15  yards  dis- 
tance, on  opposite  sides  of  the  road.  Flank 
reconnaissance  is  carried  on  by  the  main  body. 
In  general  a  patrol  should  not  cover  less  than 
100  yards  of  road  or  more  than  250  yards  no 
matter  what  its  size.  A  proper  understanding 
of  the  principles  that  govern  the  formation  of 
a  patrol  is  a  vital  part  of  the  training  of  our 
patrol  leaders  and  therefore  these  principles 
must  be  emphasized  most  strongly  in  all  our 
work.  We  must  teach  them  to  think  of  what 
they  wish  to  accomplish  and  then  take  the 
formation  and  act  in  the  manner  that  the  situa- 
tion demands. 

Conduct  of  patrol.  In  conducting  his  patrol 
a  leader  must  always  be  governed  by  his  mis- 
sion and  the  particular  situation  that  confronts 
him.  Above  all  he  must  use  good  common 
sense,  be  bold  and  be  ever  on  the  alert. 

A  patrol  must  move  as  rapidly  as  is  con- 
sistent with  its  mission  and  its  safety,  and, 
therefore,  it  must  remain  on  the  road  and  use 
flankers  or  flank  reconnaissance  only  when 
necessary.  Good  judgment  must  be  used  on 
the  amount  of  time  used  in  minute  reconnais- 
sance. Excessive  caution  must  be  exercised  as 
soon  as  you  gain  touch  with  the  enemy,  so  if 
time  is  to  be  saved  a  patrol  must  move  rapidly 

13 


during  the  early  stages  of  its  mission.  From 
this,  however,  it  must  not  be  surmised  that 
an  excessively  rapid  gait  should  be  taken. 
Nothing  is  so  easily  expended  and  likewise 
nothing  is  so  precious  to  us  in  campaign  as 
horseflesh,  so  our  thoughts  must  always  be 
toward  conserving  it.  Occasions  will  be  rare 
that  will  justify  other  than  an  alternate  walk 
and  trot  in  the  prosecution  of  the  average  task. 

The  usual  method  of  advance  for  a  patrol  is 
from  one  crest  or  point  of  cover  to  another  or, 
as  it  is  termed,  by  "successive  bounds."  The 
advantages  of  this  method  are  obvious.  A 
point  of  vantage  is  reached,  and,  with  the  pa- 
trol concealed  the  front  and  flanks  are  thor- 
oughly observed.  If  nothing  is  seen  that  needs 
further  attention  a  rapid  advance  is  made  to 
the  next  point  and  so  on. 

A  place  of  assembly  or  rendezvous  is  desig- 
nated from  time  to  time  by  the  leader  in  case 
the  patrol  is  compelled  to  scatter  to  avoid  cap- 
ture. 

Defiles  of  any  sort  are  deserving  of  special 
attention;  they  must  be  approached  with  cau- 
tion. Before  entering  one,  have  it  reconnoi- 
tered  by  a  couple  of  men  and  then  pass  through 
it  rapidly,  or,  if  it  is  practicable,  reconnoiter  it 
originally  with  the  patrol  on  a  broad  front. 

It  is  better  to  reconnoiter  towns  and  villages 
from  a  distance  and  to  avoid  passing  through 
them  if  it  can  be  done  without  material  loss 
of  time.  It  is  a  good  rule  to  keep  out  of  towns 

14 


or  enclosures  of  any  sort  unless  it  is  absolutely 
necessary  to  enter  them. 

Utilize  the  important  lookout  points  along 
the  route  for  the  halting  places  of  the  patrol, 
and  when  halted  be  concealed  and  always  es- 
tablish a  march  outpost;  that  is,  members  of 
the  patrol  are  so  placed  as  to  observe  the  front, 
flanks  and  rear.  Remember  that  no  excuse  can 
ever  justify  surprise.  To  be  taken  unawares 
is  nothing  short  of  criminal  neglect. 

Whether  or  not  a  patrol  fights  is  dictated 
solely  by  its  mission  and  the  particular  situa- 
tion that  confronts  it.  Security  or  covering  pa- 
trols (combat  patrols,  etc.)  fight  whenever  it 
is  necessary,  as  that  is  part  of  the  task  assigned 
them.  Reconnaissance  patrols,  on  the  other 
hand,  never  fight  unless  it  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary to  successful  accomplishment  of  their  mis- 
sions. The  leader  must  decide  in  each  case  the 
action  that  will  best  serve  his  purpose.  If  a 
patrol  does  have  to  fight,  the  boldness  with 
which  it  acts  will  have  a  great  deal  to  do  with 
the  outcome.  Our  leaders  should  be  instructed, 
therefore,  that  if  they  must  fight  they  should 
act  mounted  and  hit  first  and  hit  hard.  It  is 
remarkable  how  bold  action  coupled  with  a 
little  luck  wins  against  odds. 

A  high  sense  of  duty  is  an  essential  attribute 
of  any  patrol  leader.  He  must  never  quit  while 
there  is  a  possibility  of  accomplishing  what  he 
is  sent  out  to  do.  Changing  conditions  may 
make  it  impossible  for  him  to  succeed,  but  he 

15 


must  never  let  physical  difficulties,  danger  or 
hardship  cause  him  to  give  up  or  half-heartedly 
attempt  his  mission.  Leaders  must  be  pro- 
duced who  will  think,  who  will  use  common 
sense  in  time  of  stress,  who  will  surmount 
every  difficulty  and  who  will  accomplish  any 
task  up  to  the  very  limit  of  their  ability. 

Observing  and  reporting.  No  small  part  of 
the  training  for  patrol  duty  is  the  development 
of  the  ability  to  observe  correctly  and  likewise 
the  ability  to  state  concisely  and  accurately 
what  has  been  seen.  Also  it  is  obvious  that 
the  information  that  the  leader  gets  will  have 
no  value  to  any  one  unless  he  gets  it  back  to 
his  commander  in  time  to  be  used.  Our  train- 
ing, therefore,  must  be  most  thorough  along 
these  lines. 

Any  indications  of  the  enemy  must  be  looked 
for  carefully.  If  contact  has  not  yet  been 
gained,  the  first  certain  information  of  the 
enemy  must  be  reported  to  the  commander  at 
once.  A  leader  must  always  make  sure,  how- 
ever, that  any  hostile  patrol  or  detachment  he 
sees  is  not  followed  immediately  by  a  larger 
body.  The  first  information  of  the  enemy  is 
highly  important,  but  at  the  same  time  it  is 
fatal  to  waste  messengers  in  the  early  stages 
of  a  reconnaissance.  They  do  not  return  as  a 
rule,  so  each  time  they  are  sent  the  patrol  is 
depleted  to  that  extent.  Therefore,  impress 
upon  the  leader  the  necessity  for  observing 
accurately  and  fully.  Negative  information 

16 


should  not  be  sent  unless  it  is  ordered  by  the 
commander  or  unless  a  message  is  directed  to 
be  sent  by  a  certain  hour. 

In  observing  a  hostile  force  try  to  gain  some 
high  point  from  which  it  can  all  be  seen  at 
once.  If  this  cannot  be  done  and  the  force  is 
marching,  its  strength  may  be  estimated  by 
the  time  it  takes  to  pass  a  given  point. 

The  following  table  gives  the  number  of 
troops  passing  a  given  point  in  one  minute 
(Par.  27,  F.  S.  R.)  : 

Infantry  in  4's 175 

Infantry  in  2's 88 

Cavalry  in  4's.  ..  110  (walk)  200  (trot) 
Cavalry  in  2's.  .  .  55  (walk)  100  (trot) 
Guns,  caissons,  or  wagons 5 

A  thick  cloud  of  dust  indicates  infantry. 

A  high  thin  cloud  indicates  cavalry. 

A  broken  cloud  indicates  artillery  or  trains. 

Care  must  be  exercised  in  estimating  by  dust 
clouds,  however,  as  they  are  often  deceptive. 

Miscellaneous  notes.  1.  You  cannot  expect 
any  patrol  leader,  no  matter  how  efficient,  to 
combine  missions  of  reconnaissance  for  the 
enemy  and  map  making.  If  you  want  a  patrol 
to  find  the  enemy,  send  it  out  with  that  as  a 
sole  mission.  If  you  want  a  map,  send  a  com- 
petent person  to  make  it  and  make  that  his 
sole  mission.  If  you  give  a  man  both  missions 
as  an  initial  task,  he  cannot  do  either  well. 

2.  Impress  most  strongly  on  patrol  leaders 
that  they  must  not  fritter  away  their  men. 

17 


Teach  them  to  keep  their  patrols  concentrated 
within  safe  limits  and  ready  for  instant  action 
as  a  whole. 

3.  Travel  should  be  by  main  road  or  by  a 
side  road   from  which   the  main   road   can   be 
observed.     Main  roads  are  the  ones  that  will 
be  used  by  important  bodies  of  the  enemy. 

4.  A   patrol's   mission   is   usually   to   locate 
the   enemy's   main   body,    or   other   important 
hostile  body.     When  contact  is  once  gained  it 
should  be  maintained  at  all  costs  and  valuable 
information  obtained. 

5.  Be  insistent  that  the  information  gained 
reaches  the  commander  it  is  intended  for  in 
time  to  be  of  value. 

6.  Caution  must  be  observed  in  interview- 
ing inhabitants  of  a  hostile  country.     It  will 
often  be  necessary,  but  they  probably  will  in- 
form the  enemy  of  your  movements. 

7.  The  capturing  of  prisoners  seldom  justi- 
fies the  loss  of  time  and  the   action   entailed 
and  therefore  it  is  to  be  avoided  unless  it  is 
ordered   or   there   is   a   probability   of   gaining 
important  information  from  them. 


18 


SCOUTING. 

The  efficient  performance  of  any  mission  by 
a  patrol  is  dependent  to  a  very  great  extent  on 
the  scouting  ability  of  the  individual  members 
of  that  patrol.  Therefore  the  training  of  the 
scout  is  highly  important  and  should  be  con- 
centrated upon  in  any  course  of  instruction. 
Scouting  ability  depends  largely  on  the  facul- 
ties of  the  man  which,  of  necessity,  precludes 
many  men  from  attaining  any  great  degree  of 
efficiency  in  it.  In  consequence,  only  the  most 
likely  men  should  be  selected  for  the  more  ex- 
tended instruction,  though  every  cavalry  sol- 
dier should  be  given  a  good  knowledge  of 
scouting  and  he  should  know  thoroughly  his 
duties  as  a  member  of  a  patrol. 

Scouts  usually  work  singly  or  in  pairs,  so 
above  all  they  must  be  hardy,  self-reliant  men 
who  are  thoroughly  at  home  in  the  open  and 
who  can  rise  to  the  necessities  of  any  emer- 
gency. In  addition  to  being  alert,  keen  of  sight 
and  hearing,  good  riders,  good  on  foot  and 
good  swimmers,  to  be  of  maximum  value,  they 
must  be  trained  military  observers  who  are 
able  to  make  correct  deductions  from  what 
they  see  and  furthermore  be  able  to  state  those 
deductions  in  writing  in  intelligible  form. 
Ability  to  read  a  map  is  essential,  as  is  also  the 
ability  to  make  a  rough  sketch  that  is  of  mili- 
tary value. 

Finding  the  way.  Whether  or  not  a  man  is 
thoroughly  at  home  in  the  open  depends  very 

19 


largely  upon  his  ability  to  find  his  way  no  mat- 
ter how  strange  or  how  difficult  the  country  in 
which  he  is  operating  may  be 

A  good  map  is  of  course  the  best  means  of 
finding  the  way,  but  unfortunately  good  maps 
are  not  always  available  and  other  means  must 
usually  be  depended  upon.  The  most  valuable 
of  these  is  the  compass.  It  is  invaluable  in 
latitudes  where  there  are  extended  rainy  pe- 
riods during  which  the  sky  is  obscured.  The 
declination  of  the  needle  from  the  true  north 
should  be  known  for  the  locality. 

To  the  experienced  scout  the  sun  indicates 
very  closely  both  direction  and  time.  For  the 
beginner  the  north  and  south  line  may  be 
found  by  means  of  a  watch  as  follows :  Point 
the  hour  hand  at  the  sun  and  then  with  a  pen- 
cil or  straight  stick  bisect  the  angle  between 
the  hour  hand  and  twelve;  this  direction  will 
be  south.  With  experience,  of  course,  the  use 
of  the  watch  becomes  unnecessary,  as  direction 
can  be  told  as  well  with  the  sun  alone. 

At  night  the  stars  furnish  the  best  means  of 
determining  direction.  Of  these  by  far  the 
easiest  to  guide  by  and  one  of  the  easiest  to 
find  is  the  North  Star.  Other  stars  and  con- 
stellations and  the  moon  are  equally  useful  for 
direction  to  those  experienced  in  their  obser- 
vation. 

When  starting  on  any  march  or  reconnais- 
sance careful  note  should  be  made  of  the  gen- 
eral direction  to  be  taken  both  by  compass  and 

20 


with  relation  to  any  prominent  landmarks.  In 
jungle  or  high  grass  or  in  a  flat  country  where 
there  are  no  prominent  features  it  will  be  nec- 
essary to  keep  accurate  track  of  changes  of 
direction.  All  prominent  features,  such  as 
mountains,  streams,  lone  trees,  church  spires, 
peculiar  houses,  etc.,  should  be  noted  at  all 
times  and  the  direction  with  relation  to  them 
kept  in  mind.  Also  the  scout  must  frequently 
look  back  at  landmarks  as  their  appearance 
changes  greatly  from  different  viewpoints.  Ob- 
servation must,  of  course,  extend  to  near-by 
objects  and  in  thickly  wooded  country  resort 
may  be  had  to  blazing  trees  in  marking  a  trail. 

Getting  lost  is  a  thing  that  may  happen  to 
even  the  most  experienced  scout,  but  the  pos- 
sibility of  such  may  be  greatly  minimized  if, 
through  habit,  he  keeps  constantly  in  mind  the 
matter  of  direction.  Being  at  home  in  the 
open  is  mostly  a  matter  of  deduction  and  com- 
mon sense.  The  danger  in  being  lost  usually 
comes  from  allowing  fear  to  overbalance  these 
qualities.  When  the  way  has  been  lost  the 
most  important  thing  is  to  set  about  calmly  to 
discover  a  solution  for  the  problem.  It  is 
worse  than  useless  to  get  excited  and  waste 
energy.  In  most  cases  the  way  is  lost  at  night, 
in  which  event  it  is  usually  best  to  stay  where 
you  are  until  daylight  when  the  situation  will 
more  than  likely  solve  itself. 

There  is  such  a  thing  as  a  sense  of  direction. 
We  find  it  to  a  very  marked  degree  in  animals 

21 


and  birds  and  the  scout  is  fortunate  indeed  in 
whom  it  is  highly  developed.  While  it  is  an 
invaluable  possession  and  will  stand  a  scout 
well  in  an  emergency,  still  the  efficient  scout 
does  not  trust  to  it  but  instead  depends  upon 
observation  and  deduction  for  his  directions. 
The  homing  instinct  of  the  horse  can  be  used 
at  times  with  good  results,  especially  when  a 
trail  has  been  lost,  or  obliterated  with  snow. 

Observation  and  deduction.  To  be  alert  and 
keen  of  sight  and  hearing  are  indispensable  to 
the  scout.  While  these  qualities  are  gifts  of 
nature  to  a  great  extent,  still  they  can  all  be 
made  more  valuable  than  they  naturally  are,  by 
training  and  practice.  A  scout  is  of  little  use 
unless  he  can  see  the  enemy  first.  He  must 
constantly  observe  for  him  in  the  distance  and 
for  signs  of  him  close  at  hand.  Practice  in  dis- 
tinguishing distant  objects  enhances  the  value 
of  even  the  best  eyesight.  Moving  objects  are 
easy  to  see,  so  the  most  efficient  way  of  ob- 
serving is  to  approach  a  lookout  or  point  of 
cover  unseen  and  from  it  watch  intently  for 
movements  or  signs  of  the  enemy.  Scouts  ad- 
vance rapidly  from  one  point  of  cover  or  look- 
out to  another  as  do  patrols. 

The  sense  of  hearing  in  the  individual  can- 
not be  made  more  acute,  but  it  can  be  trained 
to  distinguish  and  interpret  sounds  and  there- 
by be  a  great  asset  in  scouting.  Sounds  are 
much  more  distinct  at  night  than  in  the  day- 
time, and  it  is  then  that  the  sense  of  hear- 

22 


ing  plays  a  most  important  part.  Knowledge 
should  be  had  of  the  sounds  made  by  horses' 
hoofs  at  the  various  gaits,  and  an  efficient 
scout  should  be  able  to  distinguish  between 
the  noise  made  in  the  brush  and  woods  by  ani- 
mals and  that  made  by  an  approaching  enemy. 
The  horse  may  be  utilized  advantageously  in 
this  respect,  as  his  sense  of  hearing  is  ex- 
tremely acute  and  he  will  usually  cock  his  ears 
and  look  in  the  direction  from  which  some- 
thing is  approaching. 

Concealment.  The  ability  to  see  the  enemy 
first  is  little  more  important  than  the  ability 
to  keep  hidden  from  him.  Above  all  a  scout 
must  keep  hidden  while  observing  and  never 
excite  suspicion  by  any  movement  that  the 
enemy  can  see.  What  is  seen  of  the  enemy  is 
iii  great  measure  dependent  on  the  craft  with 
which  the  observer  keeps  his  presence  from  be- 
ing known,  for  an  enemy  knowing  that  he  is 
watched  becomes  doubly  cautious.  The  stealth 
of  the  American  Indian  in  approaching  an 
enemy  has  served  as  a  model  for  scouts  of  all 
countries,  and  well  it  may,  as  it  is  the  highest 
exemplification  of  stalking. 

The  skyline  of  hills  should  be  approached 
with  great  caution  whether  by  day  or  night. 
Select  a  bush  or  bunch  of  grass  that  may  be 
approached  without  the  enemy  seeing  you, 
then  crawl  to  it  and  look  through  without  giv- 
ing any  sign  of  your  presence.  If  no  bush  or 
bunch  of  grass  is  available  at  the  exact  spot 

23 


where  the  reconnaissance  must  be  made,  con- 
cealment may  be  had  by  carrying  a  shrub  or 
tuft  of  grass  to  the  skyline  and  raising  it  very 
slowly  until  sufficient  cover  is  furnished  for 
the  head. 

If  an  animal  or  bird  is  the  same  color  as  the 
brush  it  is  in  or  the  background  it  is  against, 
and  remains  motionless,  it  is  exceedingly  diffi- 
cult to  see,  which  furnishes  us  with  one  of  the 
best  examples  of  concealment.  In  consequence, 
a  scout,  while  observing,  must  always  choose 
a  background  with  which  the  color  of  his 
clothing  will  blend  and  then  he  must  remain 
motionless  while  in  this  position. 

If  a  tree  is  selected  as  a  lookout  he  should 
follow  the  example  of  the  tree-climbing  ani- 
mals and  lie  along  a  branch  or  remain  close 
to  the  trunk. 

Trailing.  Trailing  or  tracking  is  the  highest 
development  of  the  art  of  scouting.  It  must 
be  learned  by  practice,  and  proficiency  in  it  is 
only  attained  after  extended  experience  in  its 
many  phases.  It  is  one  of  the  principal  ways 
a  scout  has  of  gaining  information,  and  so  is 
well  worth  the  time  necessary  to  master  it. 

The  tracks  of  men  and  horses  and  vehicles 
must  all  be  studied  and  knowledge  gained  of 
their  appearance  while  traveling  at  different 
rates  of  speed.  For  example,  if  the  tracks  of 
a  man  at  a  walk  and  run  be  studied  it  will 
be  found  that  they  differ  in  that  the  tracks  at 
the  run  are  farther  apart,  the  toes  are  more 

24 


deeply  dug  in  and  the  dirt  in  the  track  is  dis- 
turbed more.  The  tracks  of  the  horse  at  vari- 
ous gaits  should  be  studied  so  that  it  can  be 
told  at  a  glance  at  what  gait  he  was  traveling. 
This  can  be  accomplished  by  a  series  of  prac- 
tical exercises.  The  tracks  of  different  kinds 
of  vehicles  must  be  understood  so  that  with  a 
little  examination  it  can  be  told  what  sort  of 
a  vehicle  passed  and  in  what  direction  it  was 
going.  Development  of  this  ability  comes  from 
close  observation  and  a  repeated  comparative 
study  of  the  different  tracks  under  varying 
conditions. 

The  age  of  tracks  must  be  determined  by  ex- 
perience and  by  deduction.  The  condition  of 
tracks  as  to  moisture,  droppings  of  horses,  up- 
turned stones,  trodden  grass,  broken  bushes, 
etc.,  are  all  useful  signs  in  this  determination. 

Time  is  usually  an  important  element  in 
trailing  and  in  consequence  the  most  likely 
ground  ahead  in  the  direction  of  the  trail 
should  be  chosen  for  examination  for  tracks. 
Often  it  wil  be  found  that  if  the  tracker  looks 
twenty  or  thirty  yards  ahead,  and  especially 
against  the  sun,  any  small  indentation  in  the 
ground  will  show  a  shadow.  Also  by  looking 
well  to  the  front  the  trail  may  be  distinctly 
seen  by  means  of  the  grass  that  has  been  bent 
or  broken  down  or  by  stones  or  earth  that  have 
been  displaced. 

If  the  trail  has  been  lost  a  "cast"  should  be 
made  to  find  it.  That  is,  with  the  last  track 

25 


as  a  center,  travel  in  a  wide  circle  with  a  radius 
of  fifty  or  one  hundred  yards  and  hunt  for  the 
trail,  examining  all  likely  ground  most  care- 
fully. The  last  track  should  be  distinctly 
marked  by  tying  a  handkerchief  to  a  stick,  or 
by  some  other  effective  means,  so  that  its  loca- 
tion can  be  easily  seen.  If  the  trail  is  not 
picked  up  by  this  method  recourse  must  be 
had  to  deduction  as  to  the  probable  direction 
the  enemy  has  taken  and  effort  made  to  get 
back  on  his  trail  in  this  way. 

Miscellaneous.  Study  the  habits  of  the 
enemy  as  you  would  study  the  habits  of  any 
game  you  were  hunting,  and  in  time  you  will 
be  able  to  tell  pretty  closely  what  he  is  going 
to  do  next. 

Constant,  progressive  practice  with  concrete 
problems  is  the  only  way  in  which  scouts  can 
be  developed. 

The  subject  may  be  summed  up  by  saying 
that  success  in  it  depends  upon  common  sense, 
alertness  and  deduction  and  assiduous  daily 
practice  in  the  various  phases  of  the  art. 

It  takes  years  to  develop  the  scout,  but  the 
service  they  render  in  time  of  war  repays  a 
hundredfold  for  the  time  expended  in  their 
training. 


26 


MESSAGES. 

Beware  of  verbal  messages.  You  will  find 
very  few  men  who  can  deliver  them  accurately 
under  ordinary  circumstances,  and  under  the 
stress  of  service  in  a  hostile  country  those  who 
can  do  so  will  be  rare  indeed.  If  it  is  neces- 
sary to  send  a  verbal  message  confine  it  to  one 
idea  if  possible*  or  at  most  two,  and  insure 
that  the  messenger  understands  the  message 
exactly  by  causing  him  to  repeat  it.  It  may 
often  be  advisable,  when  time  precludes  the 
writing  of  a  formal  message,  to  write  a  few 
key  words  (the  gist  of  the  message)  on  a  piece 
of  paper  so  as  to  prevent  the  messenger  from 
forgetting  or  misstating  his  information. 

When  reporting  any  information  always  dif- 
ferentiate between  what  you  have  seen  and 
what  has  been  told  you.  If  you  have  seen 
something  say  that  you  have  and  state  it  as  a 
fact.  If  something  has  been  reported  to  you 
state  so  and  give  the  source  of  your  informa- 
tion, adding,  if  you  think  necessary,  your  opin- 
ion as  to  its  reliability.  Be  exact  in  what  you 
state.  If  the  enemy  is  moving  give  the  road 
he  is  on,  where  he  is  on  that  road  and  the  point 
of  the  compass  or  the  town  or  locality  toward 
which  he  is  marching.  If  the  enemy  is  halted, 
locate  him  definitely  with  relation  to  some  well 
defined  point  on  the  map. 

Write  the  message  legibly,  be  sure  of  the 
spelling  of  proper  names  and  P-R-I-N-T  them 
in  capital  letters  that  there  may  be  no  mistake. 

27 


Write  the  date  of  the  message  as  prescribed 
in  Field  Service  Regulations,  that  is,  the  day 
first,  then  the  month  and  then  the  year,  as 
16  July  1915.  Ordinarily  state  in  the  message 
what  you  are  going  to  do  next,  though  do  not 
do  so  if  it  probably  will  endanger  your  safety. 
As  a  rule,  and  especially  if  you  have  gained 
contact  and  are  out  some  distance,  address  the 
message  simply  to  the  Commanding  Officer 
(C.  O.).  Your  messenger  knows  to  whom  to 
take  it,  and  if  the  organization  is  not  stated  in 
the  address  this  information  will  not  fall  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy  in  case  the  message  is 
lost  or  the  messenger  captured.  In  hostile 
country  two  men  should  always  be  sent  with 
a  written  message.  They  should  be  made  to 
repeat  the  contents  and  should  be  instructed  to 
destroy  the  message  rather  than  allow  it  to  fall 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  They  should  be 
instructed  as  to  the  route  to  take  and  to  show 
the  message  or  give  the  information  it  contains 
to  intermediate  commanders  along  the  road, 
such  as  outpost  or  advance  guard  commanders. 
The  rate  of  speed  that  messengers  are  to  take 
should  be  specified  and  they  should  be  cau- 
tioned not  to  exceed  this  rate  unless  urgent 
necessity  requires.  The  unnecessary  galloping 
of  messengers  is  a  very  effective  means  of  kill- 
ing horses.  The  ordinary  rate  of  speed  should 
be  five  miles  per  hour,  rapid  seven  to  eight 
miles,  and  urgent  ten  to  twelve  miles.  Figure 
the  time  that  a  message  should  reach  your 

28 


commander  to  be  of  use  and  then  specify  the 
rate  of  speed  that  will  get  it  there.  Especially 
in  a  friendly  country,  the  telegraph  and  tele- 
phone should  be  made  use  of  for  the  transmis- 
sion of  messages  whenever  possible. 

As  a  rule,  messengers  do  not  return  to  the 
patrol  and  in  consequence  you  have  no  means 
of  knowing  that  your  message  was  delivered. 
Therefore,  you  must  number  your  messages 
No.  1,  No.  2,  etc.,  so  that  your  commander  will 
know  if  a  message  has  failed  to  reach  him.  If 
you  are  sending  messages  to  more  than  one 
commander  have  a  separate  series  of  numbers 
for  each.  In  each  message  after  the  first  it  is 
well  to  give  a  resume  of  important  informa- 
tion contained  in  previous  messages.  This  in- 
sures against  failure  of  important  information 
reaching  the  commander  in  case  previous  mes- 
sages are  not  delivered.  The  time  stated  on 
the  message  is  the  time  that  it  is  completed 
and  signed.  An  example  follows : 


29 


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